The Evolution of Biomedical Knowledge: Interactive Innovation in the UK and US

There are an increasing number of scientific breakthroughs that have the potential to change medical practice. However, the breakthrough per se, is only the start of the innovation process. If the innovative potential of these breakthroughs is to be fully exploited then novel forms of integrated, multi-disciplinary working arrangements are required as developments expose gaps in the social, legal and ethical frameworks in which the anticipated innovations occur. For example, within the fields of genetics recent scientific breakthroughs are potentially competency destroying and highly disruptive to existing professional institutional structures. There is therefore an increasingly critical requirement to establish collaborative working arrangements across heterogeneous groups of clinicians, scientists, social scientists, industrial researchers, pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms. This research aims to explore the social interactions across multi-disciplinary groups that are required for the evolution of medical knowledge leading to the development and approval of both radical and incremental innovations in the UK and US health sectors. The major objectives will be to identify the institutional influences that can facilitate (or impede) the evolution of knowledge which can support innovation in medical treatment and diagnosis. In addition we aim to identify factors that facilitate and impede the management of multi-disciplinary forums through comparing different collaborative arrangements for medical innovation.

For more details of this project, download the fact-sheet

A copy of the final report from the project is also available

Selected Publications

Refereed Journal Papers

Swan, J.,Goussevskaia, A., Newell, S., Robertson, M., and Bresnen, M. (2006) Modes of organizing biomedical innovation in the UK and US and the role of integrative and relational capabilities.
Research Policy (Forthcoming)

Swan, J., Goussevskaia, A, Newell, S., Bresnen, M. and Robertson, M. (2006) The Role of Institutional Differences in Biomedical Innovation Processes: A comparison of the UK and US,
International Journal of Health Technology Management (forthcoming)

Swan, J., Mendes, M. Bresnen, M., Newell, S, (2005) Exploring the effects of integrative and relational capabilities on biomedical innovation in the UK and US
21stEuropean Group in Organization Studies, Berlin, 1-3 July 2005

Swan, J. and Newell, S. (2004). The Object of Knowledge: The Role of Objects in Interactive Innovation.
20th European Group on Organization Studies Colloquium, Lubliana, July 2004.

Swan, J., Robertson, M., Bresnen, M. and Newell, S. (2003) Interactive Innovation Processes in the Biomedical Domain: The Development of a Framework.
19th European Group on Organization Studies Colloquium, Copenhagen, July 2004.